DEVOTEES' EXPERIENCES OF SRI SAI BABA BY H.H. NARASIMHA SWAMIJI - PART II

[Guest guest]

when I changed the notes at Kalyan, I gave Him gold. I put a sovereign in His

hand. Baba received it, turned it in His palms now with St.George's figure

up­wards, again with the written side upwards. He did so thrice and asked

Noolkar each time, "What is this?" Noolkar replied "Baba, this is a guinea".

Baba then asked him "What is it worth?" and he replied "It is worth fifteen

rupees". Then Baba returned the coin to me saying "I do not want this. Keep it

and give me fifteen rupees". I put the coin into my purse. But Noolkar was

anxious that I should not mix up the coin touched and returned by Baba, with

other coins and asked me to keep it apart as a sacred possession. Of course I

did so. I then gave Baba fifteen silver rupees. Then Baba took the fifteen,

counted them over and over and professed to find only ten rupees in what I gave

and said "here is only Rs.10. Give me 5 more". This was really testing my faith

in Him. A lawyer accustomed to combat and criticise would naturally

defend himself against the aspersion that he gave only ten when asserting that

he paid a larger sum. But my faith had come up to the mark. I meekly accepted

Baba's declaration and without any inclination to dispute Baba's words gladly

gave Hirn the other 5 rupees in my pocket. Baba was obviously aware that the 20

rupees in my pocket was intended for Him and expressly got to be paid to Him and

under colour of wrong calculation was carrying out my inten­tion to place that

sum at His feet. After I gave Him the 20 rupees on that occasion He did not ask

for more, though I had a lot more in notes with me. Then I left Him. When I went

to Him next, He was giving udhi to a number

of devotees crowding round Him. He caught sight of me as I stood at a distance,

beckoned to me to draw near, addressed me as Bhavu (as He did ever afterwards)

and said "It will be alright in 2 or 4 days". Then He gave me udhi and I left

the mosque. Persons who were present and wondered at such deep interest of Baba

in me and His regard for me, like Mr.Noolkar and Mrs.Jog, came to me. Noolkar

embraced me. Mrs.Jog wanted to know from me what sacred reading I went on with

(to find out how I should deserve the marked treatment accorded to me by Baba).

Baba, every one knew, did not care for mere wealth, gold or family position. I

hum­bly admitted to Mrs.Jog that I could boast of little sacred study, Pothi

etc.

black; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">I thought I would return by the next day.

But when leave was asked, Baba declined it in His characteristic fashion by

saying, "Go tomorrow". He did so on succeeding days and kept me there for eight

days. I was arranging for a special dinner or Biksha to Baba the next day and

requested Him to inform me who were to be invited and what the menu was to be.

Of course, Puranpoli was to be the crown of the dinner and for guests, He said

I was to invite Babu (the nephew of Dada Kelkar), who was Baba's favourite and

Baba. He said 'I also will come' before I invited Him. The next day, the dinner

was prepared as directed and plates were served. Babu was invited and sat at one

plate. Another was served and set apart for Baba. A crow came and lifted a

puranpoli off the plate and carried it away. All hailed it with delight as

evidence that Baba was going in the form to take away His own.

Arial"> The afternoon, Baba touched His limbs on one side and said. "On this

side of my body, there is excruciating pain". But He added "It will be alright

in 2 or 4 days". Baba really appeared healthy, in spite of those words and what

He meant to convey by His words escaped our powers of under­standing at that

time. To Be contd ---

FONT-VARIANT: small-caps; mso-bidi-font-family: Arial">Devotees can read this

book from the Book Section of www.Saileelas.org/books/exppart3.htm

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